A Magic Steeped in Poison

Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. Have you read any other fantasy novels inspired by Asian cultures or folklore, such as Simon Jimenez’s The Spear Cuts Through Water or R. F. Kuang’s The Poppy War? How does A Magic Steeped in Poison compare to others that you have read?

2. Some critics argue that cliffhanger endings risk angering readers. How do you feel about this particular cliffhanger? Does it irritate you or compel you to read the sequel quickly?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Throughout the novel, Ning experiences feelings of isolation and alienation, seeing herself as an outsider. Have you ever felt like an outsider? What was that experience like, and how did you resolve your feelings?

2. Many characters in the palace embody the idea that people are often not who or what they first appear to be. How have you dealt with situations in which people defied your first impressions?

3. Ning faces consistent bullying from the other competitors, especially from Shao. How does she respond to this bullying? What might you have done in her situation?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. The novel draws inspiration from feudal China for its setting, folklore, and court politics. Where do these inspirations appear most strongly in the narrative, and where does the author take creative liberties?

2. How does the novel’s exploration of class and political corruption relate to contemporary issues of inequality and political power?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. How does tea function on multiple levels throughout the novel, as both a plot device and a symbol? What are some of the different meanings assigned to tea, and how do these meanings relate to the characters or themes?

2. Of the three major themes discussed in the guide, which one do you believe to be the most central to the novel, and why?

3. How does the novel use deception and misdirection to introduce the red herring that the marquis might be the villain? What clues indicate that the Chancellor is the real villain of the plot?

4. In Chapter 38, Ning concludes that Zhen and Kang have both played her like a pawn in their elaborate game, implying that they are the same. How are Zhen and Kang similar, and how are they different? Is one more justified in their actions than the other?

5. What does the serpent symbol represent? What might it foreshadow for the sequel? For instance, do you believe the final antagonist of the duology will be the Golden Serpent mentioned in the story of the old gods, why/why not?

6. Examine the novel’s initial descriptions of Ning. How does her status as a “troublemaker” in her home village foreshadow her actions throughout the rest of the novel? What does her father’s repressive view of her willful behavior suggest about her society in general?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Imagine that you are a shennong-shi who must treat one of the characters for a specific emotional complaint. What “treatment” would you offer, and what aspects of this character’s behavior affected your decision?

2. Beginning from the cliffhanger ending, write a continuation of the story—without looking up the sequel. What do you think will happen next?

3. Imagine that you are adapting the novel for film or television. Would you mimic the style of Chinese palace television dramas, such as those the author references? Who would you cast in the lead roles? How would you depict the misty, dreamlike realm of The Shift?